Aga Khan Program of the Graduate School of Design

Established in 2003, the main aim of the Aga Khan Program at the Graduate School of Design is to study the impact of development on the shaping of landscapes, cities, and regional territories in the Muslim world and to generate the means by which design at this scale could be improved. The program focuses on the emerging phenomena that characterize these settings and on issues related to the design of public spaces and landscapes, environmental concerns, and land use and territorial settlement patterns. The process entails a study of their current conditions, their recent history (from WWII to the present), and, most importantly, the exploration of appropriate design approaches. The program sponsors new courses, option studios, faculty research, workshops, conferences, student activities, and publications. It is supported by a generous grant from the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.

Below is a list of in-print works in this collection, presented in series order or publication order as applicable.

Two Squares examines the changing role of public space in the cities of Beirut and Istanbul as they undergo major redevelopment. The study of Beirut looks at the redesign of Martyrs’ Square, and in Istanbul, the focus is on Sirkeci Square.

Focusing on six recent projects, this publication presents the architecture of renowned Turkish architect Han Tümertekin to the English-speaking world. The book examines in detail his ability to engage in some of the more difficult issues confronting architects throughout the world today, such as suburban tract development, landscape and environment, and the challenges of practicing in different countries throughout the world. It is the first of a new series of occasional monographs on contemporary designers in the Middle East and Muslim world.

Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir have been the major poles of growth and development in Turkey since the Republic was formed, although these three cities have followed very different paths. Through a series of three case studies and an introduction by Turkey’s most renowned urban historian and theorist, Ilhan Tekeli, the book studies the rise of these three main urban centers in Turkey and their roles in organizing the territory and its future reorganization.

Essays in The Superlative City examine the speed and aesthetic brashness of Dubai’s development in the early twenty-first century. Considering both visually arresting and less sensational elements of architecture, they situate Dubai’s urbanism in its contexts of architecture, urban planning and design, and historical and cultural processes.

Landscapes of Development analyzes the impact of development policies on the physical environment of the Eastern Mediterranean since the end of World War II. Essays examine formal manifestations of development, focusing on urban and rural schemes, housing projects, and agro-landscapes and dams from Israel to Turkey, and from Greece to Syria.

Deserts are becoming increasingly popular tourist destinations. However, the growth of this tourism niche raises particular challenges, jeopardizing their fragile ecosystems and straining scarce resources. This book seeks to analyze the relationship between tourism and the sustainable development of those territories, addressing issues raised by architecture, landscape design, and planning.

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